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Cars once upon a time required a secure storage space for security. Technology improved, comprehensive insurance became a social norm, etc, and now you can just
by blamazon 3y ago
Cars once upon a time required a secure storage space for security. Technology improved, comprehensive insurance became a social norm, etc, and now you can just snug it against a curb, hop out of your car and press a button and generally not worry about theft, but if it does happen you're covered.
Why can't e-bikes be this way? My answer: they can and are, just not all of them yet.
- c22 3y agoI put a two-way car alarm on my ebike and it works exactly like this.
- bluescrn 3y agoCar theft is rather more policed because a 2-ton 100mph+ car can easily kill or cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands. Bike theft is down there with shoplifting or recreational drug use when it comes to policing priorities. But when a bike is stolen, often a person is losing an important means of transportation, so perhaps it should be taken more seriously. Not going to happen in a ‘soft on crime’ society, though.
- blamazon 3y agoI propose, somewhat tautologically, that the primary reason why car theft is generally well policed (in USA, where my lived experiences have primarily been) is that it's generally a small enough problem for most police departments to get their arms around because of basic anti theft technology. I believe the Kia/Hyundai debacle of the last few years supports this idea: > So far this year, Minneapolis police have received 1,899 Kia and Hyundai theft reports, nearly 18 times the number for the same period in 2022. [1] [1]: https://apnews.com/article/hyundai-kia-tiktok-theft-stolen-8e0a353d24be0e7bce36e34c5e4dac51 https://apnews.com/article/hyundai-kia-tiktok-theft-stolen-8...
- analog31 3y agoIt may be that car theft is more policed because of political pressure from insurance companies, and because cars were typically more valuable than bikes. Fighting car theft lowers insurance rates. But virtually nobody insures a bike.
- blamazon 3y agoI would also imagine most police officers in USA patrol their jurisdiction in automobiles, not on bicycles. Number 2 is probably motorcycles. I would also venture to guess that most officers don't cycle to work or in their free time.
- analog31 3y agoIndeed, but their priorities are set by their departments and cities.
- wpietri 3y agoI don't think this is a "soft on crime" question. As you say, bikes are a low priority. But bikes were long considered a low priority in things like road design. The lack of bike lanes isn't getting better because people are getting tougher on crime. It's because we're getting rid of some of the classist nonsense that treats people able to afford cars as more important than those who couldn't. And also because bike commuting has become a middle- and upper-class phenomenon.
- blisterpeanuts 3y agoCar theft, at this point, is mostly a law enforcement issue. A very active, motivated anti-theft team can shut down theft rings and at least keep it down to a dull roar, versus almost total negligence in cities like San Francisco. I'm particularly fond of theft magnets, very attractive stealable cars equipped with cameras and remote shutdown and a team watching from a distance. Park it at a mall or on some side street, wait for the trap to be sprung, and poof! One less thief on the loose. Bikes, not so sure. A good U-lock and a plastic-coated cable are a start, but these can be defeated within a minute by a professional. I just heard on one of the YT China channels that people are indeed taking their batteries with them when they park their bikes, not so much out of fear of common theft, but because the police are empowered to confiscate e-bikes for a variety of infractions and it's almost impossible to get them back.
- wpietri 3y agoBait bikes are also a thing. E.g.: https://www.ocregister.com/2020/12/09/irvine-orange-and-other-cities-use-bait-bikes-to-catch-thieves/ https://www.ocregister.com/2020/12/09/irvine-orange-and-othe... I also saw Mark Rober speak yesterday, I think with Allen Pan. He mentioned doing some sort of video where they built bait bikes and used them to sucker thieves. And I think Rober said they are doing another bike theft project where they'll be trying to trace things to the higher ups. So I think the lack here is more that of a motivated anti-theft team. But motivation may be hard to come by. Not only are bike thefts notoriously low priority, only 21.5% of SFPD officers actually live in SF: https://missionlocal.org/2023/07/sf-police-firefighters-super-commute-out-of-state/ https://missionlocal.org/2023/07/sf-police-firefighters-supe... Quality of life crimes matter a lot less when it's not your quality of life.
- somerandomqaguy 3y agoTechnology improved, but cars one main advantage. To steal a 4000lbs car one needs either a tow truck, or to enable the engine, or a lot of guys to push. To steal a 15 lbs bicycle, one need only pick it up and walk away.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- rcpt 3y agoE bikes are a lot heavier than 15 lbs
- sleepybrett 3y agoI am reminded of this reddit post and it's picture https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/13og4mc/thats_one_way_to_steal_a_bike/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/comments/13og4mc/thats_one_.... Most e-bikes have a lock on the battery that can be toggled to cut out the motor, though I think it can still be pedaled, but this is why you always lock through the frame and the the back wheel...
- dukeyukey 3y agoStill plenty carrayable by one person.
- kjkjadksj 3y agoSame issue with motorcycles and people just buy insurance, which you can do with bikes too.
- vel0city 3y agoI can pick up a bicycle and walk away with very little effort. They're usually less than 20lbs. My motorcycle is 500lbs wet. Close to 700 with full cases. Are you really suggesting it's just as easy stealing a 500-700lb bike as a 20lb bike?
- 3y ago
- kjkjadksj 3y agoAll bikes are like that today. Just put it on your renters or homeowners insurance.
- vwcx 3y agoAgreed. People forget that until the late-90s, many were still buying theft protection devices they installed every time they exited the vehicle.